Improvement in bottle-stopper fastenings



T. s. SMITH. Bottle Stopper-Fastenings.

No. 210,438. Patented Dec.j3,'1878.

. NVPEI'ERS. FHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. [1.6.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS S. SMITH, OF FAIR HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOTTLE-STOPPER FASTENINVGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 210,4l88, datedDecember 3, 1878 application filed October 29, 1878.

To all whom it may concern Ile itknown that I, THOMAS S. SMITH, of FairHaven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle-StopperFasteners, of which the following is a specification My improvementsconsist; in atriangular slot in the lever used, and in a combination ofwhich the lever having a triangular slot forms a member.

In the aeconnianying drawing, which forms a part-of this specification,Figure 1 is an elevation of a bottle furnished with my improvedstopper-fastener, showing the position of the parts when in use, andalso showing themode ot' fastening the ends of the band which surroundsthe neck of the bottle. Fig. 2 shows the position of the parts when notin use. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the lever, cap, stopper, and theupper portions of the neck of the bottle. Figs. 4 and 5 are views of thelever, slightly ditl'ering in form and showing the triangular slot.

' In Fig. 1 the band A is shown around the neck of the bottle. The bandis elliptical in form, which makes it fit the necks of bottles varyingin size. its ends are locked together in the manner shown in Fig. 1, andare easily sprung apart to remove the band. It has the two like lugs a.The bail B has its ends bent into proper form for insertion in the holesin the lugs a of the band A. It passes through the upper portion of thelever, and hasthe enlargements a" to hold the lever in place, the leverbeing free to turn on the bail.

The cap C has a circular part, flat on the under side, from which sidethe projection it extends, on which the elastic stopper (1 is placed, asshown in section in Fig. 3. It also has the two similar lugs 0, Figs. 1and 2, bc-

tween which a pin passes through the triangular slot in the lever.

The lever 1) has its. upper end flattened, is wide at its lower end, hasthe triangular slot 0, one side of which is parallel with the lower endof the lever, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and is pivoted to the bail, asbefore described.

The construction may be varied. Slots may be made in the lugs c, andapin put; in the lever with the same results.

The fastener will work without aholein the lower part of the lever, orwith a roundhole of sutiieient size, but works in the most satisfactorymanner with thetriangular slot, as described, the function of the slotbeing to connect the cap to the lever, and, its upper end being narrow,to bring the lever, bail, and

lugs a on the band A in the same vertical plane when the stopper is inthe bottle.

The operation of my fastener is as follows: The parts are turned overfrom the position shown in Fig. 2, and, the stopper being placed in themouth of the bottle, the thumbisfirmly pressed against the lower part oft-helever and the lever is turned to a vertical position by theforefinger, the thumb and finger pressing in opposite directious,;whcreit is firmly held on its lower and wide end, firmly pressing and holdingthe stopper in the bottle.

My improvements differ from the improvement patented to C. 0. Hammer,May 14, 1878, No. 203,615, in that my lever is not pivoted to the cap bya pin passing through a projection on one of the sides of the lever, as

is Hannners, which lever can only move in one direction to remove thestopper; but my lever may be moved in opposite directions to remove thestopper-a very great advantage. It also ditl'ers in having enlargementson the bail to hold the lever in its proper position.

Having described my improvements, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The lever D, pivoted to the bail B between the enlargements an :r,andhaviug the triangular slot 0, in combination with the band A, bail B,and cap 0, connected to the levcrvby a. pin passing through thetriangular slot, in the lever, all the said parts constructed andcombined as and for thepurposes shown and set forth.

2. In a bottle-stopper fastener, the lever I), having the triangularslot. 0, as and for the purpose described.

'ruonas s. SMITH.

Witnesses:

lnonen TERRY, \VILLIAM HorsoN.

